Reset factory default itself

[Xartin]

My Xperia Z3 Compact reset itself to factory default in my pocket ...

The screen was locked and the option tape" twice on screen to wake-up" disactivate.

There is a combo of button to reset the phone ?

[mattrauch]

I think I've found a workaround I can live with:

Before you setup your Exchange Account, which applies said security policy, you have to protect your lockscreen via password (not PIN!). Then you setup the Exchange Account and apply the security policy as usual, but the password-protection on the lockscreen is still intact, even if the securty policy demands PIN. Here comes the clue: The password can be of arbitrary length and therefore you have to tap ENTER for submittig it, which makes incorrect attempts via pocket dialing very unlikely!

[Rickard · Accepted solution]

In our latest software update we have made a change to avoid the phone being reset by accident due to policies.

Depending on the policy set, if you enter wrong PIN you will need to type in "SONY" to continue which will reduce the risk of resetting the phone by accident by entering wrong PIN if display should turn when you have the phone in your pocket.

[Rebem]

Rickard, what version of the software is the "SONY" option available in? The full factory reset-in-my-pocket happend to me for the third time last night and I'm pretty sure I was 100% up to date with all Sony and Google updates. How can I check? Software Update in Settings said I was up to date.

I am running a workplace Exchange profile and the phone was extremely hot in my pocket when it reset. At the time I was using the GPS to track my movement on a bike (Strava), so maybe heat is a factor?

Full factory reset occurred and all data on my SD card was wiped. Very, very frustrating.

[Rickard]

@Rebem

I'm sorry to hear that

I checked the IMEI you have registered with us and i'm afraid the update where we added this feature is not available for your country/operator yet. We have it in 23.4.A.1.232.

[KMNY]

Hi I've had the same problem with my Z5 Compact. It has happened to me twice in two weeks. I have Airwatch loaded for my work Exchange account. Before I reloaded Airwatch onto my phone, 10 incorrect passcodes would just delay me 30 seconds. I went up to 50 incorrect passcode entries before I stopped testing. When I loaded Airwatch, after my 6th try I got a noticed that my phone would reset with 4 more wrong entries. Is there a way to turn off this "factory reset" option in settings? I know you can turn it off on the Samsung Galaxy.

@Rickard. Do you know if they are going to roll this "SONY" fail safe is going to be offered for the Z5 series? My build number is 30.0.A.6.152.

Thank you,

[KMNY]

Sorry, my build number is 32.0.A.6.152

[Jim_au]

Just happend to me for the 2nd time on a Z3+.

Phone is in my back pocket.  Disabled tap to wake after the last time.

Still happened 😞

[Rizalaziz]

Happened to me today. My phone reset and my SD also wiped out completely. Sony what happened? I been using z1 nothing happened like this in z3+

[phoenix0102]

hi

my z1 compact did exactly this today and i had exchange set up and all my software was up to date, took my phone out of my pocket to find that it was asking me to select a langauge and was also audio describing everything to me where you cant just tap the screen for what you want you have to do everything by scrolling. lost 18 months worth of pictures and in the same blow its deleted all content on my google accounts linked to my phone, including loads of music i bought on google play which i cant even find on my google account on my pc... everything is gone and all my accounts are empty. and its wiped my sd card... literally the worst experience iv ever had with any handset. never again sony.

[Rickard]

@KMNY

The information i have is that this feature will also be added to the Z5-series.

@phoenix0102

I'm very sorry to hear that 

It sounds like you may be checking wrong Google account. If you buy something from Google Play the purchase is stored in your account. It's not possible for the phone to delete purchases from your account. The master reset the phone performs can only remove the account from the phone.

If you had pictures stored on the SD card it may be possible to recover the data using a PC and a recovery software like Recuva.